The frail Pope, 85, gave a humble final mass in front of about 55,000 people gathered in front of St. Peter’s Square in Rome. He arrived in his Pope mobile to cheers, thanking everyone for understanding his decision to step down.

The Pope had announced his decision to resign a few weeks prior due to his age and health. He’s the first Pope in the modern age to step down rather then serve for life.

He will continue to be known as Benedict XVI and become the Roman pontiff emeritus or pope emeritus, the Vatican had announced on Feb. 21.

Pope Benedict XVI will later depart for Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence for popes, and live there until restorations are complete on the Vatican covenant, which will become his home.

The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope after the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005.

This is the deadliest hot air balloon accident in the world in over 20 years.

There were 21 people aboard the balloon, enjoying the Egyptian landscape, before falling almost 1,000 feet in the city of Luxor.

A gas explosion is what caused the crash.

There were 19 foreign tourists on the balloon, including nine from Hong Kong, four from Japan, three from Britain, two from France, and one from Hungary, officials have said. An Egyptian pilot and another Egyptian were also on board.

Three people, two Brits and the pilot, are currently hospitalized.

The Feb. 26 crash has prompted Gov. Izzat Saad of Luxor province to ban all hot air balloon flights until further notice.